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A New Legislation to Protect Refugee Applicants
Australia February 28, 2011 – A legislation to eliminate unnecessary visa processes for people at risk of torture has announced by the Australia Immigration Minister. This also covers any inhumane treatment or likely death if they are returned to their home country. It also means that lengthy Australian Visa processes will be eliminated for protection visa applicants.
The said Amendment (Complementary Protection) Bill 2011 will allow claims that raise Australia’s non refoulement (non-return) obligations under international human rights treaties. It should be considered through the same Australia Visa process as claims that raise obligations under the Refugee Convention.
The goal of this legislation is to help vulnerable people – those people at risk of the most serious forms of harm if returned to their home country as explained by Mr. Bowen. He added to that explanation that Australia’s international treaty obligations mean that the government cannot and do not send these people home. They are only able to get a visa through the personal intervention of the minister under existing processes.
The Australian visa application process gets extremely inefficient, stressful and time-consuming as applicants must apply, be rejected, find review, be rejected again and then find the personal and entirely discretionary intervention of the minister.
The Australian government was committed to promote efficient, accountable and transparent Australia Immigration decision making. This new protection legislation will allow all claims by visa applicants from other countries to be considered in one efficient, transparent and reviewable process. It would also provide greater certainty and faster outcomes for vulnerable refugees at risk of violation of their fundamental human rights.
However, a woman fleeing a so-called ‘honour killing’ may not be covered by the Refugee Convention. This example will be covered through the inclusion of complementary protection in Australian law as discussed by the Australia Immigration Minister Chris Bowen.
source:
visabureau.com
